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Charity reports rise in owners looking to give up their dog
Dogs Trust has reported a 100 per cent rise in the number of people visiting its 'give up your dog' page.

Dogs Trust launches survey to better understand how ‘pandemic pups’ are coping.

Dogs Trust has reported a rise in the number of dog owners looking to give up their pet.

The animal charity says that it has noticed a 100 per cent increase in the number of visits to its ‘give up your dog’ page in the last six months, most likely owing to people returning to their workplaces and leading more active social lives. 

To better understand exactly why this happening, Dogs Trust has launched a nationwide survey to find out how dogs are coping with the ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions.

The answers will help Dogs Trust plan for the future so that it may continue to provide urgent care and behaviour support where it is most needed. Survey participants will also receive dog behaviour advice via email tailored to their experiences.

A Dogs Trust spokesperson said: “With increasingly active social lives and many owners going back to workplaces, life has changed massively once more. Highly sensitive to routine, our four-legged friends can feel stressed and anxious when things shift, and this can affect their behaviour.

"Sadly, in the last six months we've  tracked a 100 per cent increase in the number  of  visits to our  “Giving up your dog” web page. We want to be by the side of dogs and their owners to support them through the challenges of this next phase, but we can’t do this without your help.”

The survey is open to all UK dog owners and takes 10 minutes to complete. Find it at nationaldogsurvey.org.uk

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.